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Abstract:

A holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles comprises a
retaining structure and a positioning member. The retaining structure
allows the user to firmly secure a comestible to the holding assembly.
The retaining structure has two different embodiments: one embodiment for
softer comestibles with a flat bottom, such as a cupcake, and another
embodiment for more rigid comestibles with a round exterior, such as
fruit. The first embodiment of the retaining structure is a platform with
tines, and the second embodiment of the retaining structure is a hollow
hemisphere with one tine. The positioning member is a long shaft that
allows the user to position the comestible in a desired location. The top
end of the positioning member is used to attached to the bottom of the
retaining structure, and the bottom end of the positioning member is used
to penetrate into a base in order to situate the holding assembly.

Claims:

1. A holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles comprises,
a retaining structure; a positioning member; said retaining structure
comprises a platform, a plurality of openings, a plurality of supporting
ribs, a plurality of insertion tines, and a collar; said positioning
member comprises a stem, a slit end and a penetration end; each of said
plurality of insertion tines comprises a tine tip; said collar comprises
an inner collar wall and a plurality of fitting ribs; and said retaining
structure being attached atop said positioning member.

2. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as
claimed in claim 1 comprises, said collar being centrally positioned to
said platform; said collar being connected below to said platform; said
plurality of insertion tines being concentrically positioned around said
collar; said plurality of insertion tines being connected normal to said
platform opposite of said collar; said tine tip being located on each of
said plurality of tines opposite of said platform; and said plurality of
openings traversing through said platform adjacent to said plurality of
insertion tines.

3. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as
claimed in claim 2 comprises, said plurality of supporting ribs being
radially positioned around said collar adjacent to each of said plurality
of insertion tines; and said plurality of supporting ribs being connected
to said platform adjacent to said collar.

4. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as
claimed in claim 2 comprises, said inner collar wall being concentrically
positioned within said collar; and said plurality of fitting ribs being
connected along said inner collar wall.

5. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as
claimed in claim 1 comprises, said slit end being positioned opposite of
said penetration end on said stem; said slit end being inserted into said
collar; said stem being encircled by said inner collar wall; and said
plurality of fitting ribs being pressed against said stem.

6. A holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles comprises,
a retaining structure; a positioning member; said retaining structure
comprises a receptacle, a plurality of insertion tines, and a collar;
said positioning member comprises a stem, a slit end and a penetration
end; each of said plurality of insertion tines comprises a tine tip; said
collar comprises an inner collar wall and a plurality of fitting ribs;
and said retaining structure being attached atop said positioning member.

7. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as
claimed in claim 6 comprises, said collar being centrally positioned to
said receptacle; said collar being connected below to said receptacle;
said plurality of insertion tines being positioned parallel to said
collar; said plurality of insertion tines being connected to said
receptacle opposite of said collar; said tine tip being located on each
of said plurality of tines opposite of said receptacle; and said
plurality of openings traversing through said receptacle adjacent to said
plurality of insertion tines.

8. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as
claimed in claim 7 comprises, said inner collar wall being concentrically
positioned within said collar; and said plurality of fitting ribs being
connected along said inner collar wall.

9. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as
claimed in claim 6 comprises, said slit end being positioned opposite of
said penetration end on said stem; said slit end being inserted into said
collar; said stem being encircled by said inner collar wall; and said
plurality of fitting ribs being pressed against said stem.

10. A holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles
comprises, a retaining structure; a positioning member; said retaining
structure comprises a platform, a plurality of openings, a plurality of
supporting ribs, a plurality of insertion tines, and a collar; said
positioning member comprises a stem, a slit end and a penetration end;
each of said plurality of insertion tines comprises a tine tip; said
collar comprises an inner collar wall and a plurality of fitting ribs;
said retaining structure being attached atop said positioning member;
said collar being centrally positioned to said platform; said collar
being connected below to said platform; said plurality of insertion tines
being concentrically positioned around said collar; said plurality of
insertion tines being connected normal to said platform opposite of said
collar; said tine tip being located on each of said plurality of tines
opposite of said platform; and said plurality of openings traversing
through said platform adjacent to said plurality of insertion tines.

11. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as
claimed in claim 10 comprises, said plurality of supporting ribs being
radially positioned around said collar adjacent to each of said plurality
of insertion tines; said plurality of supporting ribs being connected to
said platform adjacent to said collar; said inner collar wall being
concentrically positioned within said collar; and said plurality of
fitting ribs being connected along said inner collar wall.

12. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as
claimed in claim 10 comprises, said slit end being positioned opposite of
said penetration end on said stem; said slit end being inserted into said
collar; said stem being encircled by said inner collar wall; and said
plurality of fitting ribs being pressed against said stem.

Description:

[0001] The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional
Patent application Ser. No. 61/413,691 filed on Nov. 15, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus capable of
holding a comestible in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Traditional apparatuses used to hold a comestible in aesthetically
pleasing manner would simply support the comestible from the bottom, and,
thus, would be severely limited in the angles and positions that the
comestible could be displayed in. These traditional apparatuses would
also position multiple comestibles relatively close together without any
appreciation for the aesthetic appeal of spatial distribution.
Traditional apparatuses does not provide a user with the opportunity to
be creative with the arrangement of their comestibles, and, rather, force
a preformed arrangement that is created by either the designer or the
manufacturer. The objective the present invention provides the user with
a flexible means to arrange and position their comestibles in an
aesthetically pleasing manner. The present invention is able to penetrate
into a comestible, which firmly situates the comestible on the present
invention, and allows the comestible to be displayed in a variety of
angles and positions. The present invention uses a long shaft to extend
the position of the comestible in any direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention with the
first embodiment of the retaining structure.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention with the
second embodiment of the retaining structure.

[0006]FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the first embodiment of the
retaining structure.

[0007] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the first embodiment of the
retaining structure.

[0008] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of second embodiment of the
retaining structure.

[0009]FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the second embodiment of the
retaining structure.

[0010]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the positioning member with an
oblique cut as the penetration end.

[0011]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the positioning member with a right
cut as the penetration end.

[0012] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the present invention with first
embodiment of the retaining structure, which is penetrating into a
cupcake.

[0013] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the present invention with second
embodiment of the retaining structure, which is penetrating into an
orange.

[0014] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a plurality of the present
invention being positioned within a Styrofoam block.

[0015]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a plurality of the present
invention being positioned within a vase.

[0016] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a plurality of the present
invention being positioned within a preformed base with sockets.

[0017] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a plurality of positioning members
being shaped into a wrought structure with a base.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

[0018] All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing
selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit
the scope of the present invention.

[0019] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a holding
assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles such as cupcakes and
fruit. The holding assembly comprises a retaining structure 10 and a
positioning member 20. The retaining structure 10 supports a comestible
so that the comestible does not fall off the present invention. The
retaining structure 10 is attached to the top of the positioning member
20, which allows the present invention to properly position the
comestible in a aesthetic manner. In the preferred embodiment, the
present invention would ideally have a length of five to eighteen inches.

[0020] The retaining structure 10 allows the present invention to hold a
comestible in place by piercing the comestible and by supporting the
comestible from the bottom. In the typical embodiment of the present
invention, the retaining structure 10 comprises a platform 11, a
plurality of openings 13, a plurality of supporting ribs 14, a plurality
of insertion tines 15, and a collar 17. This embodiment of the retaining
structure 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 9. The platform 11 serves
as a base for the other components of the retaining structure 10 to be
connected together. The comestible rests on the platform 11 when the
comestible is engaged by the retaining structure 10. The collar 17 is
positioned normal to the bottom of the platform 11 and connects to the
center of the platform 11. The collar 17 allows the positioning member 20
to engage to the retaining structure 10. The collar 17 is a rigid tube,
which comprises an inner collar wall 18 and a plurality of fitting ribs
19. The inner collar wall 18 is located within the collar 17 and
traverses the length of the collar 17, and each of the plurality of
fitting ribs 19 is connected along the inner collar wall 18. The inner
collar wall 18 and the plurality of fitting ribs 19 allow the collar 17
to capture and hold the positioning member 20 over a wide range of
dimensional tolerances, which helps to reduce the manufacturing cost of
the present invention.

[0021] The plurality of insertion tines 15 provide the retaining structure
10 with a means to penetrate the comestible and to firmly situated the
comestible onto the platform 11. The plurality of insertion tines 15 is
positioned around the center axis of the platform 11 and is positioned
normal to the top of the platform 11. The plurality of insertion tines 15
is connected to the top of the platform 11. The configuration of the
plurality of insertion tines 15 allows a user to easily grasp the
positioning member 20 and to apply the proper force to penetrate the
plurality of insertion tines 15 into the comestible. Each of the
plurality of insertion tines 15 has a tine tip 16, which is used for the
initial penetration of the comestible. The tine tip 16 is positioned on
each of the plurality of insertion tines 15 opposite to the platform 11.
The shape of the plurality of insertion tines 15 can be designed
according to the type of comestible being displayed by the present
invention. For example, the plurality of insertion tines 15 could be
needle-shaped if the comestible is a piece of fruit. The plurality of
insertion tines 15 can be modified in terms of number, shape, and size in
order to provide the retaining structure 10 with optimum holding power
for a particular kind of comestible. The plurality of supporting ribs 14
strengthens the configuration of the plurality of insertion tines 15 by
being positioned underneath each of the plurality of insertion tines 15.
The plurality of supporting ribs 14 are positioned radially around the
collar 17 and is connected to both the bottom of the platform 11 and the
collar 17. The retaining structure 10 needs the plurality of supporting
ribs 14 to strengthen the configuration of the plurality of insertion
tines 15 because the plurality of openings 13 traverse through the
platform 11 and is adjacent to the plurality of insertion tines 15. The
plurality of openings 13 is used as a means to eliminated unnecessary
material and reduces the cost of the present invention.

[0022] In another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining
structure 10 is designed to hold a comestible with a rounder shape, such
as fruits and vegetables, in place, which can be seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and
10. The retaining structure 10 in this embodiment comprises a receptacle
12, a plurality of insertion tines 15, and a collar 17. The primary
difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment of the
retaining structure 10 is the receptacle 12, which cups the bottom of the
round comestible in order to the support the round comestible. The
receptacle 12 would be most likely shaped as a hollow hemisphere so that
the receptacle 12 could brace reasonable round comestibles with an
appropriate diameter. The receptacle 12 could instead be a plurality of
narrow fingers that are positioned to form a hemispherical shape, which
would reduce the material cost of the present invention. The ideal range
for the diameter of the hemispherical shape of the receptacle 12 would be
between one to ten inches so that the present invention can accommodate
round comestible as small as a cherry and as large as a cantaloupe. The
collar 17 is positioned along the center axis of the receptacle 12 and is
connected to the bottom of the receptacle 12. The plurality of insertion
tines 15 is positioned to be parallel to the center axis of the
receptacle 12 and is connected within the receptacle 12. This embodiment
of the retaining structure 10 would most likely have only one insertion
tine that is positioned along the center axis of the receptacle 12
because fruits and vegetables usually have enough structural integrity to
be supported by only one insertion tine 12 penetrating into them. Also in
this embodiment, a plurality of openings 13 could traverse through the
receptacle 12 and, again, provides a means to reduce the material cost of
the present invention. A plurality of supporting ribs 14 could be
positioned below the receptacle 12 if this embodiment contains more than
one insertion tine. Either embodiment of the retaining structure 10 can
be constructed from any material that can be molded, stamped, or cast,
but the most preferable kind of material is polypropylene or a general
purpose styrene.

[0023] The positioning member 20 allows the present invention to situate
the comestible in the proper area and is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The
positioning member 20 comprises a stem 21, a slit end 22, and a
penetration end 23. The stem 21 is the body of the positioning member 20
and is used to position the retaining structure 10 in an area that is
chosen by the user. The slit end 22 is located on one end of the stem 21,
and the penetration end 23 is located on the other end of the stem 21.
When the slit end 22 is inserted into the collar 17 so that the
positioning member 20 is attached to the retaining structure 10, the slit
end 22 is able to compress within the inner collar wall 18, which further
increases the dimensional tolerances of the collar 17. The stem 21 can be
hollow or solid and can have any shape cross section. The stem 21 could
also have a variable cross section are along its length. The penetration
end 23 is used to situate the positioning member 20 into a base. The
penetration end 23 could be shaped with either a right angle cut, which
would traverse into a precut hole located on the base, or with an oblique
angle cut, which would traverse into a yielding material such as
Styrofoam. The positioning member 20 can also be constructed of any
material that can be molded, stamped or cast, but the positioning member
20 is most preferably made of polypropylene or a general purpose styrene.

[0024] The present invention can also include a base in addition to the
retaining structure 10 and the positioning member 20, which are together
known as a holding assembly. The base is used to situate a plurality of
holding assemblies. The plurality of holding assemblies can be configured
onto the base in a number of different aesthetic arrangements. In one
aesthetic arrangement shown in FIG. 12, the base could be simply be a
vase, and the plurality of the holding assemblies could be simply placed
within the vase. In another aesthetic arrangement shown in FIG. 11, the
base could be a Styrofoam block that is placed within a basket and is
covered by wadded tissue or some kind of padding. The Styrofoam block is
penetrated into by the positioning member 20 as a means to situate each
of the plurality of holding assemblies on the Styrofoam block. In another
aesthetic arrangement FIG. 13, the base is preformed chunk of material
that consists of a plurality of receptacle sockets, which are positioned
at different angles. The plurality of holding assemblies are inserted
into the plurality of receptacle sockets, which position the plurality of
holding assemblies in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The angle of each
of the plurality of receptacle sockets are an integral part to the
preformed base and can be varied. In another aesthetic arrangement shown
in FIG. 14, a wrought structure is already connected to the positioning
member 20 of each of the plurality of holding assemblies. The wrought
structure has an insertion stem, which traverses into the base. The base
and the wrought structure in each of the aesthetic arrangements can be
constructed of any material that can be molded stamped or cast but is
most preferably made of polypropylene or a general purpose styrene.

[0025] Experience has shown that, if the folded paper cup for a cupcake is
not used, then the cupcake should be allowed to cool to room temperature.
For added benefit, the cupcake should be placed in a refrigerator and
cooled further to reduce the likelihood of the cupcake crumbling when
installed on the present invention. It should be noted that recipes can
be adjusted for best holding as well as the entire retaining structure
10.

[0026] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible
modifications and variations can be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.